July 27, 2007

Another season, but the same old feelingsAnother reason could beI'm tired of aching, summer's what you make itBut I'll believe what I want to believe

Harry Callahan, Eleanor, Chicago, 1949

The Welsh People -- Terrance Winch

— for Doug Lang

1The Welsh People are waiting for mein the Childe Harold. It is 1973. The Welsh Peoplehave been drinking and playing Pac Man.

2I go out carousing with the Welsh People.They are all on strike because the authoritieswant them to stop stealing books. It is two hours beforeclosing time and the Welsh People have already had 18 Irish Coffees.They do not like the authorities. These are my Welsh People.The Welsh People stop by with all the music of the 1940sre-arranged Welsh-style onto hundreds of cassette tapesand we listen all night amid the stolen books. We aresmoking a lot of cigarettes and dope with the Welsh People.Welsh People like to make lists that have thousandsof items on them and that go back many years.List-making is an ancient Welsh art, dating backto Richard Burton, a Welsh person. Some of the otherWelsh People are called William, Anthony, Ivor, Allan,Dylan, Bob, Tristam, Romney, Meredith, Lucky, Sluggo,Gwynn, Gwyneth, Glenda, Lloyd, Llewellyn, Puff Daddy,Becky, Andrea, Mary Ellen, Sandra, Cordelia, Calvin Lewis,Anthony Hopkins, Tom Jones, Boom-Boom, Rocky, Ringo,T-Bone, J. J. Lyly, Lefty. But mostly they are named Doug.

3I see the Welsh People eating Welsh rabbit, or is itrarebit? This is cheese and beer on toast. It is very healthy,the way the Welsh People like everything to be. To buildup your Welsh vocabulary, simply type “Ll,” close your eyes,and randomly hit letters on the keyboard. Many Welsh Peopleare known to get angry and set fire to their homes if the landlordreplaces the deluxe toilet bowl with a much smaller one.The Welsh are called "The Fire People" because oftheir magic Chevrolets, which they are not licensed to drive.

4Some of the favorite places of the Welsh People areThe Cozy Corner, Kramer’s, The Hotel Wallaby,The Rondo, Folio Books, The Cafe Splendide, The Fox and Hound,The Tabard. The Welsh People smoke while playing soccernear the castle ruins. They prefer taking drugsand listening to jazz over working in the coal mines.

5I want to explain how the Welsh People have phone bills bigger than their rent, but I can’t.

6I am with the Welsh People and they say to methe trouble with the future is that it doesn’t stopwhen it gets to the place you want to be.I agree.

7I am thinking of the Prince of Wales, a royal person.When he calls his girlfriend and tells her he’d like to be her Tampaxthe Welsh People finally accept him as their prince.Not since Gruffyd ap Llewelyn and Owen Glendowerhave the Welsh People been so pleased with a leader.

8The Welsh People are riding in a cab, which isthe only officially sanctioned Welsh means of transportation.I used to worry about the Welsh People until I realizedthat they are at one with the universe and are protectedfrom all harm by their impenetrable spiritual armorand by all the things they learn by watching cable t.v.If the food is good, the Welsh People will eatevery last molecule. They will smoke all the cigarettes,drink all the drinks. This is the secret of their success,which is itself a secret.

9A long time ago, the Welsh People came to Americaand began biting Americans on the ass. This delayedthe issuance of their green cards for many years. I used tothink the Welsh People were a bunch of freaks,wandering around Dupont Circle leaving tips that wereoften really just too generous for the service they got, butnow I have come to realize that where there’s smokeand fire, there’s Welsh People throwing a party.

Honors -- Sam Abrams

I once got high with Milesand Joe Earlyhunched against the windin an alley off 2ndoff that fat hash roach

Curriculum Vitae -- Samuel Menashe

1

Scribe out of workAt a loss for wordsNot his to begin with,The man life passed byStands at the windowBiding his time

2Time and againAnd now once moreI climb these stairsUnlock this door—No name where I liveAlone in my lairWith one bone to pickAnd no time to spare